Harold of Mercia

Harold of Mercia (832-) was King of Mercia from 883, succeeding Ceolwulf II of Mercia.

Biography
Harold was born in Mercia in 832 to a noble Anglo-Saxon family. In 883, King Ceolwulf II of Mercia died, and King Alfred the Great of Wessex demanded the Mercian throne as its self-proclaimed "rightful heir". Harold, who assumed power in Mercia after Ceolwulf's death, agreed to Alfred's demands, and Mercia became Wessex's vassal. Mercia had little choice in the matter, as much of its lands in the west had been lost to Gwynedd, while its northern lands had been conquered by Djurby and some of its regions were in a state of rebellion.